Ask and it will be given.../Bittet so wird euch gegeben...

"So I (Jesus) say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luk 11:9

Thanks be to GOD who answers our petitions!

We now have an abundance of workers –truly!!! Thanks for praying!

Three days ago a new Old Colony family with nine children (Family Jakob Friesen) moved to our mission site. They have eight sons and one daughter ranging in age from six to 18. The older boys have already proven to be industrious workers.

Another family who plans to move to Canada soon is also attending church services. The father is also a great asset at the building site. Tomorrow the five men from Germany arrive.

Today we had a congregation of 53 people!

We are also very thankful that Brother Ed Klippenstein and his wife (Hamilton, Ontario) are also planning to help out here for two months starting September 7. His carpentry skills will be invaluable!

Please pray:

- Especially for Family Jakob Friesen that they may understand and accept the Word of God

- Safety and success at the building site, health and wisdom for the construction leadership

- That we would be able to get the necessary building materials as we need them (this cannot be taken for granted in Bolivia!)\

Thanks in advance!

JS

Und ich (Jesus) sage euch auch: Bittet, so wird euch gegeben; suchet, so werdet ihr finden; klopfet an, so wird euch aufgetan. Lukas 11,9

Gott sei Dank, ER hat unsere Gebete erhoert!

Wir haben jetzt viele Arbeiter am Missionsbau.

Vor drei Tagen ist eine Alt-Kolonier Familie mit neun Kindern (Familie Jakob Friesen) aufs Gemeindegrundstueck gezogen. Sie haben acht Soehne und eine Tochter im Alter von sechs bis 18 Jahren. Die aeltesten Jungs haben sich schon als fleissige Arbeiter bewaehrt. Eine andere Familie, die bald nach Kanada ziehen will, besucht auch die Gottesdienste. Der Vater ist auch ein nuetzlicher Arbeiter am Bau. Morgen treffen auch die fuenf Maenner aus Deutschland ein.

Heute hatten wir 53 Versammlungsbesucher!

Wir sind auch sehr dankbar dass Br. Ed Klippenstein und seine Frau (aus Hamilton, Ontario, Kanada) ab den 7. September, zwei Monate lang hier aushelfen wollen. Seine Zimmerman Faehigkeiten werden hier sehr nuetzlich sein!

Bitte betet:

- besonders fuer Familie Jakob Friesen – dass sie die Wahrheit verstehen und erkennen koennten

- Bewahrung und Erfolg am Bau, Gesundheit und Weisheit fuer die Bauleitung

- Dass wir die noetigen Baumateriallen zur richtigen Zeit bekommen (das ist in Bolivien nicht selbstverstaendlich!)

Danke im Voraus!

JS

Please pray for workers / Bitte betet fuer Arbeiter

Please pray for workers at the building project especially this week. A few weeks ago the 11 year old son of our best Bolivian worker (Choco) died tragically at his home while swinging on a rope from a tree. This week he needs to lay the bricks for his sons grave (to save money). Please pray that God might comfort Choco while he does this difficult job – that this may be healing rather than hurting for him.

Choco generally helps supervise the others. When he’s not there we really miss him.

We are also lacking workers in general. On July 24 – five men from Herford are coming to help (Eduard Hagel, Alex Schwarz, Georg Fitz, Richard Kimmerle, Oskar Witt). We are VERY THANKFUL for the answer to our call for help.

Please also pray that wecould find dependable, steady, skilled workers here so that the work could steadily progress.

THANKS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!

JS

Bitte betet diese Woche besonders fuer Arbeiter am Bau. Vor einigen Wochen verunglueckte der 11 Jaehrige Sohn von unserem besten Bolivianischen Arbeiter (Choco) beim spielen mit einem Strick an einem Baum in seinem Garten. Diese Woche muss er das Grab fuer seinen Sohn mauern (um Geld zu sparen). Bitte betet dass diese Arbeit ihm zum Trost und nicht zum groesseren Schmerz dienen koennte.

Choco hilft mit der Aufsicht ueber die anderen Arbeiter. Wir vermissen ihn sehr wenn er nicht da ist.

Uns fehlen auch Arbeiter im ganzen. Am 24. Juli kommen fuenf junge Maenner aus Herford uns zu helfen (Eduard Hagel, Alex Schwarz, Georg Fitz, Richard Kimmerle, Oskar Witt). Wir sind SEHR DANKBAR dass sie unserer Bitte fuer Arbeitskraefte gefolgt haben.

Bitte betet auch dass wir hier zuverlaessige und faehige Arbeiter finden koennten damit die Arbeit voran gehen koennte.

VIELEN DANK im Voraus!

JS

Visit to the old colony villages

Last Sunday afternoon was my (Lorraine) second visit to the old colony villages (Doerfer). The young unmarried people in the colonies have an interesting tradition of literally being ‘out on the streets’ every Sunday afternoon, and these streets aren’t even close to the equivalent of any small-town main street in Canada. These are simply country dirt roads with farms along the way. Sometimes there are groups of guys lounging against a fence, perhaps huddled around a ‘verbotenen’ cassette player or discman. Last Sunday was very cold, so one group had built a small fire for some warmth. The girls are typically walking rather than sitting around. Perhaps they want to get in a little exercise!

This tradition presents a unique opportunity for us to visit with the young people and share the gospel with them. With the youth from our church (there are usually 9-10 of us), we drive out to the villages every 2^nd Sunday afternoon. Our trip usually begins at 1:30, and ends at 6. Typically we’ll pull up beside a group of people, roll down the window, and ask if they want to hear some “Leider” (songs). Most are open to this, and then we all get out and start singing. Currently our favourite song to start with is “Wissen sollte jedermann”. Usually someone will say something, and then we’ll sing a few more songs, depending on the level of interest. Sometimes the young people don’t understand high-German that well, so one of our youth will translate. Before we leave again, we ask if they’d like some CD’s (“discos”) of songs or low-German sermons. These are always very much appreciated. People who’ve received CD’s before often say that they’ve listened to them and enjoyed them. Of course, CD players are strongly ‘verboten’, so there’ll usually only be one available amongst a group of guys.

There are of course always those that think this is some great joke, and mock us, but there are also those that do seem to show a longing on their faces, or at least appear attentive rather than scornful. In larger groups, the guys often feel the need to appear ‘macho’, and laugh off the need for salvation, but in speaking to some of them individually, some of the barriers start to break down, and they admit their longings for something different in their lives. In any case, it is only our job to scatter the seed – God needs to prepare the hearts and bring the fruit. Prayer is absolutely essential in this work!

A few other interesting observations: The girls are more scared and rather ‘skittish’, and you can tell by their expressions that they know listening to us is ‘verboten’, and they aren’t totally comfortable with it. Some of the guys are often more openly rebellious overall, (they quite nonchalantly drink beer and pull out their cigarettes), and aren’t that easily scared off. It also seems as if the guys are somewhat easier to reach; perhaps with their more openly sinful lifestyles, they see their need of Christ and redemption more clearly.

Please pray:

- That God would prepare and open hearts for our next visit.

_- That God would direct us in which villages to visit, and bring out the people that need to hear His message.

_- That the Holy Spirit would continue to work in the hearts of those with whom we’ve already had contact, and would show them their need for a Saviour.

_- That some of the young people would be interested in having us come to do a youth group with them.

_- For protection during these visits.

_- That we would continue to have the freedom to make these visits (we have already received one anonymous threatening phone call commanding us to stop making these visits).